Dense fog makes driving challenging in Tarai

By Bomlal Giri

Nawalpur, Jan. 16: The sun has risen. But it is still not bright outside. The fog is so thick that it is difficult to see any object even just 10 metres away. The fog has caused the most problems for those driving in the morning. Vehicles are moving thinly along the Narayangadh-Butwal road section of the East-West Highway, that too at a very slow speed. 

Ramesh Kumar Parajuli, a bus driver heading towards Bhairahawa from Birgunj, said that it was extremely difficult to drive the bus as the visibility was very poor due to the thick fog.

“As soon as you increase the speed, there is an equal risk of an accident due to poor visibility, so you have to be careful and drive slowly,” suggested driver Parajuli. The highway was under construction and the drivers also drove carefully, so there were no major accidents, said Janak Raj Banjara, Chief of the District Traffic Police Office. 

Since mid-December last year, dense fog has been blanketing the districts of the Tarai, including Nawalpur. Not only fog but also cold waves have been affecting people in the region. 

Narayanghat-Butwal road section had to close for a day because of the cold waves and when roads went slippery. At other times, the sun shines brightly in the Tarai, but now it is difficult to see the sun in the afternoon.

As the mercury continues to fall, dense fog and cold waves have forced most local levels in the Tarai to close the schools for the winter. 

The elderly were facing additional health woes as cold winter further deteriorated their health. Arrangements have been made to make fires in the streets to ward off the cold.

At the initiative of the District Police Office, arrangements have been made to make fires in 24 public places at six local levels in the district, according to DSP Jeshi Sah of the District Police Office. 

Similarly, local clubs have also managed firewood to make fires in many places.

Chief District Officer Arun Pokhrel said that as the cold wave and fog increased, food grains and clean clothes were distributed to nearly 100 poor families across the district at the initiative of the District Administration Office.